Circular-knitting machine for making open or lace work.



No. 650,874. Patented June 5,' I900.

J. H SPBOWLES.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN 0R LACE WORK.

(Application filed Nov. 6, 1899.)

(No lodel 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

1 I b I E; L I l I a T 51c I Witnesses. Inventor. 43W I Attorneys THE NORRIS bsrzns cow PHOYO-LITNO.. wnsumu'rox mo.

No. 650,874. J. H. 'O E Patented June 5, I900.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MAGHINE-FOR-MAKING bPEN 0B LACE WDRK.

(Application filed Nov. 6, 1899.)

(No Modal.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J g j Witnesses. Inventor.

wd fl W w- W/WW W Attorney HE Noam PETERS 00.. PHOTO-LUNG WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES? PA ENT OFFICE.

JESSE H. SPROWLES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCULAR-KNlTTlNG MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN OR LACE WORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part or Letters Patent no. 650,874, dated June 5, 1900.

Application. fine November 6,1899. Serial mfv sasvz. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, J ESSE HORACE SPno'wLns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Manufacturing Open or Lace lVork on a Circular=Knitting Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

I will first describe the mechanism for carrying out my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of the knitting-machine embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the cam for controlling the needles. Fig. 3 is a section through the needle-cylinder. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the needle=lifting mechanism, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the portion of the fabric manufactured by my improved machine.

From an examination of the fabric it may be seen that the open-work is formed in the following manner, each section of the openwork consisting of the following: a series of wales, then the omitted Wale, then a Wale in which the stitches are alternately formed, and so in every alternating round a stitch is formed. Then follows the omitted Wale, and then series of wales. As may be seen, the fabric thus produced has the appearance of lacework, having the central longitudinal thread or lock-stitch and a set of double wales on each side of the central portion, the thread passing or floating from each side of this central portion to the double wales. I produce this fabric upon a circular-knitting machine, and I produce it on a circular-knitting machine of the character which is illustrated in Letters Patent No. 538,518, dated April 30, 1895, issued to Harry A. Houseman. That machine, as is well known, consists of an operating cam-cylinder A, which is driven by the gear B upon the shaft b,which shaft b is rotated by means of the bevel-gear O meshing into the bevel-gear c on the driving-shaft D. The needles E are held in levers E E The levers E control those needles which in the manufacture of circular goods, such as stockings, are during the formation of the heel and toe thrown out of action. In the operation ner. From the next lever the needle is re-' moved. The tail of the next lever instead of being connected directly to the plate F- is connected to the plate F, which plate F rests upon the plate F when the needle is in action.- The needle from the next lever is removed. This completes a repeat of the needles to form one repeat of the lacework. The plate F is connected to the rods G G, which rods G G extend downwardly loosely through the plate F and are connected together at the bottom by the cross-piece G having a projecting portion g, which rests upon the cam H, having a high portion h and a low portion h. This cam H is on the shaft I. This shaft I has a bevel-gear J, which meshes with the bevel-gear K on the shaft 12. The relation of the bevel gears K and J are as one to two. The spring L is confined to hold the rods G G, and with them the plateF, down against the plate F. In one rotation of the cam H the rod will be elevated and depressed. The relation of the gears J and K are as one to two. The cam H revolves once for every two revolutions of the machine, and thus the levers E, which are controlled by the cam, are alternately turned in and out of action with the successive revolutions of the machine. By this operation it may be seen that so long as the machine is rotating, which is the only time in which I make lacework, as in stockings, it would be undesirable to make this lacework in the heel and toe. In a repeat two needles are at all times in action, the next needle is at all times out of action, the next needle alternately in and out ofaction, and the fifth at all times out of ac tion. I do not intend to limit myself to this specific arrangement, as of course it might be varied without departing from my invention. Having now fully-described my invention,

what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with a needle and operating-lever for said needle, of a plate upon which the end of said lever rests, a rod connected to said plate, a rotary cam having low and high points upon which the other end of said rod rests, rotating mechanism for said machine and connection between said cam and the rotating mechanism adapted in its revolution to rotate said cam one half-revolution.

2. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with a needle and operating-lever for said needle, of a plate upon which the end of said lever rests, a second plate upon which the first plate rests, a rod connected to the plate upon which the lever rests, said rod passing loosely through the second plate, a rotary cam having low and high points upon which the other end of said rod rests, rotating mechanism for said machine and connection between said cam and the rotary mechanism adapted in its revolution to rotate said cam one half-revolution.

3-. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination witha plurality of needles operating-levers equal in number and corresponding to said needles, a plate upon which the ends of said levers rest, rods connected to said plate, a plate connected to the other end of said first-mentioned plate, there being orifices in the second plate through which said rods pass, a plate connected to the other end of said rods, a rotary cam having high and low points, there being a projection on said lastmentioned plate resting upon said cam, rotating mechanism for said machine and connection between said cam and the rotating mechanism adapted in its revolution to rotate said cam one half-revolution.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on this 3d day of November, 1899.

JESSE II. SPROIVLES.

\Vitnesses:

M. F. ELLIS, J. M. SHINDLER, Jr. 

